schlaepfer



no. 625,357.. Patented may 23,1899.

' c. scHLAx-:PFER a M. wALTon.

DYEING MACHINE.

(Application lnd my 3, 189B.) (No Mo'del.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

am@ 5f @ma No. 625,357. Patented May 23, |899. C. SCHLAEPFEB M. WALTON. DYEING MACHINE.

(Application led May 3, 1898.)

cNo Mcdel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

no'. 625,357. Patented may 23, |899. c. scHLAEPFEn a M. wALToN.

DYEING MACHINE.

(Application led lay 3, 189B.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(Nh Nudel.)

afn/g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SCI-ILAEPFER AND lWIATTI-IEVV WALTON, OF FRATTE-DI-SALERNO, ITALY.

DYEiNc-MAH'IN.

sPEcIEIcATIoN frmingpart of Letters Patent No. 625,357, lated May as, 189e,

Application led May 3, 1898. Serial No. 679,658. (No model.)

To ctZZzf/wm t may concern.-

Beit known that we, CHARLES SCHLAEPFER, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, and MATTHEW WALTON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, both residing at Fratte-di- Salerno, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Washing Woven Fabrics and Yarns, (for which we have made application for Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 3,169, dated February 8, 1898,) of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in machines for washingwoven fabrics and yarns either in hanks or warps during the operations of bleaching, dyeing, and soaping; and the principal object of our improvements is to reduce the drag or tension on the fabrics or yarns to a minimum, whereby we gain ehiciency in washing and are able not only to wash heavy fabrics, such as ilannellet, but also the finest fabrics, even lace, without breakagel or distortion.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, Fig. 2 a plan, and Fig. 3 an end sectional elevation, of a washing-machine constructed according to our improvements.

In the machine illustrated in the views we show an arrangement of three tanks A' A2 A3, respectively; but it will be readily understood that any other convenient and suitable number of tanks may be employed.

The division-walls C' C2 of the tanks are of different heights to allow the water or other liquid admitted to the tank A through the pipe B to ilow freely through all three tanks and escape out of the machine through the pipe C3. The fabrics Z, generally two lengths at a time, are led into the machine through two pot-eyes D and pass into the tank A3, under and over Winches E, and guided by guiderails F throughthe nip of the lower pair of squeezing-rollers G H, up out of the water in the tank A3, through the nip of the upper pair of squeezing-rollers H' G', then through the winch-guide T' and over the tension-compensating winch T, down into the tank A2, under and over Winches E, and so on tothe delivery end of the machine.

It will be observed from the drawings that they are to be treated by a subsequent bleaching or similar operation.

We drive the three ranges of squeezingrollers G H by the following or any other con- Veni ent and suitable arrangement of drivinggear: On the main shaft we mount a friction clutch-pulley L (see Fig. 2) for either rope or belt, from which we drive a corresponding pulley M on a counter-shaft K. The handle of the lever (not shown) for controlling the ,clutch L and starting and stopping the machine is placed in any convenient position for the attendant. On the counter-shaft K we secure three pulleys N O N', placed side by side. The middle pulley, O, is a plain pulley, which drives by a belt, at one constant speed, a corresponding pulley on the axle of the squeezing-roller H, range A2. The other two pulleys, N N', are coned pulleys and drive corresponding coned pulleys on the axles of the squeezing-rollers H in ranges A' and A3. On the axle of each squeezing-roller H is a spur-wheel Y, which drives by a carrier-gear S' a spur-wheel S on the axle of the upper squeezing-roller H'. The speed of the squeezing-rollers in the two ranges A' A3 is regulated by hand-wheels P, which shift the belts onthe coned pulleys N N by means of strapforks R, actuated by screwed shafts when the hand-wheels P are turned, the upper sets of strap-forks R being caused to move exactly with the lowerby means of chain-gearing R'.

The squeezing power is obtained by means of levers V, pivoted to the frame at V' and provided with adjustable weights V2. A screw IV, worked by a handle W', passes through a swivel-nut in the lever V, and the end of the screw bears upon the slide-block, in which the upper squeezing-roller Gis j ournaled. The lower squeezing-roller G is also journaled in slide-blocks, and these, as well as the slide-blocks of the upper roller G', are guided in open slots or slideways in the machine-frame. The upper slide-blocks are connected by springs X and rods X to a second pair of weighted levers V, which are also con- IOO v.to

nected to the lower slide-blocks by rods X2. By this arrangement the pressure on the goods is easily regulated and is much more uniform and eective and the machine Works more smoothly and lightly than with the ordinary dead-weight arrangements for applying pressure. The squeezing-rollers H in the upper set of the three ranges A' A2 A3 are,say,two and ahalf millimeters (or more or less) smaller in diameter than the corresponding rollers H in the lower sets, and this is of great importance, as it prevents too great a pull and stress on the goods While stretched and passing be-Y tween the lower and upper sets of squeezingrollers. The lower sets of rollers having to pull the goods over the Winches and from different parts of the bleach-house it follows that the goods will slip a little in passing between the rollers G and H, and if this slip Were not compensated by the difference in` diameter of the rollers H H' the tension between the upper and lower sets of squeezingrollers in the same range would be too great. The difference in the dimensions of the two rollers as given above is not absolute and can be Varied according to the strength and quality of the goods. For example,in works Where only low quality or fine cloth is bleached the difference between the two sets of rollers in the same range would be greater. The tension-compensating Winches T are balanced by chains T2 and Weights Q, so that theleast excess of strain beyond that required for drawing the goods over them will cause them to descend and, vice versa, to rise if the goods are too slack. These Winches T have a rise and fall of about four feet, so as to give the attendant ample time for regulating by means of the hand-wheels l) the speeding of the squeezing-rollers in ranges A' and A3, and thereby maintaining the Winches T at about middle height.

Ve consider it advantageous to make the tanks A A2 A3 narrow, so as to economize and thoroughly utilize all thel Water.

In the sides of the tanks We make handholes fitted with movable covers, such as U U2, to enable the attendant to insert his arm for convenience in threading the goods through or other purposes.

Although we have shown and described three tanks A A2 A3, which is the number we prefer and consider most advantageous, it will be readily understood that we might employ any other convenient number in series, and we might vary the means for driving and regulating the driving of the several sets of squeezing-rollers and for Weighting them.

Again, We might dispense with all or s ome of the upper sets of squeezing-rollers, in which case the goods pass directly from the rollers H over the tension-compensating Winches T,

and thereby greatly simplify and reduce the cost of the machine; but we do not recom mend this, as the eXtra cost is in our opinion more than repaid by the increased efliciency of the machine when the upper sets are employed in combination With the lower sets of squeezing-rollers.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,

what we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for Washing fabrics and yarns, in combination, a series of Washingtanks, means for guiding the goods into and through said tanks, a set of Weighted driven squeezing-rollers adapted to be immersed in the water in each tank, and an upper set of Weighted driven rollers for drawing through and squeezing the goods after they have left said tank, tension-compensatin g Winches for relieving the goods of any excessive strain, and means for varying the speed of the squeezing-rollers and so regulating the tension on the goods being drawn through the machine, all substantially as and for the purposes here` in set forth.

2. In combination, a series of washing tanks, means for guiding the goods into and through said tanks, a set of weighted driven sqeeezing-rollers adapted to be immersed in the water in each tank, tension-compensating Winches for relieving the goods of anyexcessive strain and means for varying the speed of the squeezing-rollers and so regulating the tension on the goods being drawn through .the machine, all substantially as'and for the purposes herein set'forth.

3. In combination, the end and intermedi-l ate squeezing-rollers arranged in series, driving mechanism for driving the intermediate rollers at a constant rate of speed, and variable operating means connecting said driving IOO mechanism with each of the remaining series of rollers whereby the speed of each outer set may be varied in respect to the intermediate set, substantially as described.

In witness whereof We have hereunto setv our hands in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES SCHLAEPFER. MATTHEV WALTON. Witnesses:

CARLO HERIPELE, GIOVANNI NrooLAUs. 

